Chief Vinson's Retirement Party

On Tuesday, the City of Bristol, TN. hosted a retirement party for Chief Phil Vinson. The festivities were emceed by Bristol, TN. City Manager, Jeff Broughton.

In attendance were Chief Vinson's Family, Dignitaries from the City of Bristol TN, representatives from Bristol Va Fire Department, Bristol Life Saving Crew, Bristol TN Police Department, Bristol VA Police Department, Johnson City Fire Department, Kingsport Fire Department, Elizabethton Fire Department, Greenville Fire Department, Alcoa Fire Department, Maryville Fire Department and various members of all the Departments of the City of Bristol, TN.

Presentations were made to Chief Vinson for his long and dedicated service to the City of Bristol and the surrounding areas. The City presented a Clock to Chief Vinson, Utility Services (water department) presented a fire hydrant that had been in the city longer than Chief Vinson, Bristol Va Fire Department presented Chief Vinson with a plaque honoring his service and Peg Brown presented a poem "Ode to Vinson"

Each shift at BTFD presented the Chief with tokens of their appreciation.

A-Shift presented 2 rocking chairs to the Chief so he could "rock-on" in his retirement.

B-Shift presented the Chief with the Brass Fire pole from the Old 4th street Fire station. This pole was erected at BTFD Station 1 in honor of Chief Vinson Service.

C-Shift presented the Chief with a White Leather Fire Helmet with Gold Leaf Shield and a stand to place it on. The Chief was also presented a T-Shirt. If you ever worked for Chief Vinson, you will under stand the significance of that presenation.

This retirement party lasted for a few hours and was attended by at least 200 people.Chief Phil Vinson will be missed by all. He has helped shape the way for BTFD to prosper in the coming years.

See More Pics in the Flickr account on the side bar of the website

Good Luck Chief!

Submitted by:

Sgt. Tim Estes

House Fire on 6th St EXT

Engines 51, 21, 19 Rescues 25 and 23 and Chief 33 Responded to a house fire on 6th st ext around 1030 Tuesday Morning. On arrival units found heavy smoke.

Here is the Link from BristolNews.com

The pic in the Article has Lt. Castle performing Rescue Breathing on a Kitten!

Remember we are to Protect Life and Property including Cats and Dogs!

Many Departments in the United States are now placing pet CPR equipment on Fire apparatus!

Also Yesterday was Chief Vinson's Retirement party and I understand that there were a lot of people there!

If anyone has pics and they want them on the site please email them to me!

Take Care

Roark

House Fire on 6th St EXT

Engines 51, 21, 19 Rescues 25 and 23 and Chief 33 Responded to a house fire on 6th st ext around 1030 Tuesday Morning. On arrival units found heavy smoke.

Here is the Link from BristolNews.com

The pic in the Article has Lt. Castle performing Rescue Breathing on a Kitten!

Remember we are to Protect Life and Property including Cats and Dogs!

Many Departments in the United States are now placing pet CPR equipment on Fire apparatus!

Also Yesterday was Chief Vinson's Retirement party and I understand that there were a lot of people there!

If anyone has pics and they want them on the site please email them to me!

Take Care

Roark

Chief Vinson's Last Day Tomorrow

This is you last chance to post a message to Chief Vinson for his retirement!

Don't forget the Retirement Party Tomorrow at Tennessee Station 1 on Bluff City Hwy.

Also I will not be able to attend tomorrow so if someone would take pics and email them to me and I will get them on the web page!

Take Care

Roark

Information!

Here is an article from firehouse.com on Bed Bugs that has infested a fire station!

Here is the link

Also the Haz-Mat Team is going to Tazewell Tomorrow with the Air and Light trailer!

As soon as I get more Information I will Post it on the Haz-Mat Call!

One Dead in Bristol Tenessee House Fire

Around 0300 this morning Bristol Tennessee responded to a house fire, on arrival fire and heavy smoke were visible. One subject has died in the fire.

Here is the link from Bristol News

As I get more I will update

Free training!

Today I watched a web cast from Firehouse.com. It was on Size up and Command operations. The cool thing was I watched it at home and it was free. The Instructors were from FDNY. I know what everyone is thinking "We don't do it like FDNY!" Your are 100% correct we don't do it like them.....but the web cast was geared to all departments. Volunteer, Career, Big and, small. They covered all areas of on scene size up and command operations. A new term that I learned was....Windshield Size-up. This means as you are driving around your first due go ahead and do windshield size-up's before you have an incident at the location.

Other points I gathered: If you are in Command, know who is there, Know where everyone is at on the fire ground, and know who is coming.

The instructors were:
Tom Richardson and Richard Blatus


I only got to watch 30 mins. of the web cast due to other obligations today, but I highly recommend that you sign up and watch these web casts, it will be well worth your time!

Take care and Stay Safe

Roark

WHY WE WEAR TURNOUT GEAR

Engine 3 and Rescue 3 was dispatched at 01:54 hours on January 17, 2007 for a reported vehicle on its’ top in the creek in front of Pals Restaurant on Lee Highway. Just another MVA call for Engine 3 and Rescue 3.

On arrival at the scene the BVPD was already on scene and the lone occupant of the vehicle had self extricated and was talking with the police officers. Engine 3’s crew assessed the situation and determined that the vehicle had exited the bridge on Alexis Drive and had come to rest passenger side down in the creek and resting against the creek bank. It was also determined that we had some fuel in the creek mixed with oil. A request was made for Response 1 to deliver 5 absorbent booms to be placed downstream from the accident site. After the booms were placed Response 1 returned to Station 1 and members of Engine 3 stood by while the towing service began removal of the vehicle from the creek.

The vehicle was winched up the bank on its’ top and then left upside down near the edge of the parking lot while the tow driver repositioned the cables to roll the vehicle over onto its’ wheels. The recovery operation resumed while Engine 3 members maintained a safe distance from the operation. As the vehicle was winched up onto its’ front driver side corner to clear a small exit sign near the parking lot it came into contact with a flood light used to illuminate the sign at night. As the vehicle was lowered back to the ground there was a sudden, explosive ignition of the vehicle and its’ interior. Within a second the rear of the vehicle and the interior was engulfed in flames. Engine 3 began to fight the fire within a minute of ignition. A call was made by radio to dispatch Response 1 and Quint 1 immediately to back Engine 3 and provide foam due to the fuel fire. The fire was quickly contained and extinguished and Quint 1 was cancelled.

The lesson that is reinforced here is that we must maintain a safe zone of operations and wear the turnout gear that we are provided. Maintain an Incident Management System on all calls. A routine scene became an explosive scene in the blink of an eye. Always be aware of your surroundings. Officers, be aware of the scene and what your crew is doing. The crew should always be aware of what they are doing and their surroundings. And above all: Protect yourself with the gear and the equipment that is provided. Watch your brother or sister’s back on calls. And most importantly: Wear your turnout gear properly so everyone goes home!!!

Lt. Richard L. Thompson

Chief Phil Vinson To Retire January 31, 2007

Chief Vinson Beside Ladder 3

After 42 years of service with the City of Bristol Tennessee Fire Department Chief Vinson is going to retire.

Chief Vinson began his career on April 23, 1965 as a Firefighter.

1972 Chief Vinson was promoted to Captain.

1977 Vinson was appointed the Chief of the Department.

He has served as Chief for 30 years.

This morning I had the privilege of sitting down with Chief Vinson to discuss his retirement. Chief had many stories to tell me and one thing was evident, he was very proud of his department!

When I ask Chief what were the biggest changes in the Fire Service during his career he stated that technology, safety, and training have changed the most.

Turnout gear, trucks, and computer technology specifically were the biggest changes.

In the past several years he has replaced the entire fleet of trucks with newer apparatus. He also spoke of the implementation of computers in all front line apparatus, equipped with mapping and hydrant information.

I also spoke with him about memorable fires in his career. He told me that he had seen thousands of fires but a few stuck out. The Christmas day Exide Fire, the 6th Street fire, and the most recent Thanksgiving Day fire at the former Clortrim casket plant. He also spoke of the Train station fire on the Virginia side of town. He showed me a picture of this fire with the famous Bristol Va/Tn sign on State Street in the foreground and the fire in the background. This was an impressive picture.

He also told me that when Ladder 3 was placed in service, its first fire was actually on the Virginia side of town at the Japanese Stake house on Commonwealth Ave.

A few other things about Chief Vinson that I found out are that he donated Engine 9 to the Fire Academy and now it is known as Vinson 1.

The most interesting fact that he told me was that according to the Tennessee records that he has been Fire Chief longer than any career Fire Chief in the State. He could remember a couple of volunteer Fire Chief’s that had 30 years service as Chief.



On a personal note, Chief Vinson was my first Career Chief that I worked for. Chief never had a bad thing to say and he was always friendly. I don’t think there is anyone out there who is more proud of his employees and I can’t think of anyone who works for him that is not proud of him.

Chief Vinson did tell me that he is still going to visit the different fire stations throughout the city to stay in touch. He also is still going to serve on the board for the Fire museum. He also hopes that they can get the 1949 Mack refurbished so it can be placed in the fire museum.

If you get the opportunity to go and talk to Chief Vinson before he retires, Do. It is not that often you get a first hand history lesson! Thanks again Chief and all the best in your retirement.

Please use the comment area to leave your message for Chief Vinson. I will print them out and give them to him in the next couple of weeks.

New Link!

Concord New Hampshire Battalion 3 has a new Blog. Former Bristol Firefighter Bickers is the "Webmaster". The blog has just started and It looks great!

Here is the link to Concord Blog!

Remember if you want me to post anything or you have a link please email it to me!

Whats been going on!

Sorry for the delay in posting anything!

At shift change yesterday I learned that "B" shift had a working fire in Engine 3's First due area on Monday night. I got the word that the fire went well a quick knock down was made, but that is all the info I have. I do not have any pics there was no media coverage. So, if you have info let us know! Yesterday, Firefighter Taylor did a interview with WJHL on the Nuke stuff coming down the interstate next year. If they post this interview on the web I will post the link!
We had the first snow of the year yesterday....so we watch traffic back up on I-81 several times yesterday!

Anyway I am going to try to get caught up with Chief Phil Vinson and try to get an interview with him hopefully we can get this setup before he retires.

Remember if anyone wants to see something or wants to post anything let me know!

Also, I am going to be working on a link page.....if you have a favorite web site let me know!

Email me

Be careful

Roark

news for Today Jan. 4, 2007

First of all Welcome to Firefighter Carrier and his first day on the job.

Second we have a couple of events coming up that a couple of our Brothers are getting together!

Taylor is wanting to get together and go to Winterplace and go Snow Tubing again this year.....The tentative date is Feb. 4 (If it ever snows or turns cold). We would meet in Wytheville and then on to West Va. Check here for prices Winterplace . Anyone wanting to go please contact FF Taylor Station 1 C. If we get enough we could possibly get a group rate. This is a Family event so everyone is invited!

And Quillen is wanting to get together and play paintball. I will get more information posted soon on this trip!

Happy New Year!!

Once again I have been out of town! Well I was supposed to leave on Thursday to go to Georgia to visit family but a little bug visited my house.......it was the virus that acts like the flu. My wife got it on Tuesday, My daughter got it on Tuesday night, and I got it Wednesday. We all were feeling better on Saturday so we left for Georgia and came back on Sunday. For those who are keeping up with my patch collection no I did not visit any Chiefs or any Fire stations this time. I do plan to go and Visit the Dalton Georgia Fire Department soon! (I did notice that they have several newer Sutphen Engines and Ladder!) For the ones that did not know Bristol Va. Fire recently ordered a Rescue Engine and a 100ft Platform from Sutphen.

Anyway Now that 2006 is history what calls, incidents, or anything do you all remember about 2006? Comment on it I will start.........

The Training facility is under construction.
The new Engine and Ladder.

What Else?

And Once again Happy New Year!